The growing elderly population and the aging baby boomer generation have brought about many developments in the elderly care service industry. And with the expectations and demands of the coming senior generation coupled with our current economic situation, what directions will the senior care and senior living industry be heading?
Here are a few trends you might be seeing in the future of senior care:
1. Say good bye to sterile, nursing home facilities. Years from now, you’ll be seeing a massive shift from the traditional and hospital-like setting of the nursing home model to more personalized senior living options like assisted living and independent living, where active seniors can live a rich life with little or no assistance in everyday activities. Factors like rising costs of skilled nursing facilities and cuts in Medicare may propel this change to a nearer future date.
Some facilities have, in fact, taken assisted living to a whole new level. Now there are a great number of niche senior communities, ranging from culture-based to lifestyle-based retirement housing options, where residents can enjoy being around like-minded individuals, or other elderly people from the same culture.
2. Increase and improvements in the in-home care industry. As more and more seniors prefer to age in place than move out, increase in the demands for in-home care services could result to improvement of the in-home care technology and a massive employment growth in the in-home care sector. Trends like “senior-friendly” communities and multigenerational homes may also become the norm in the future for the in-home care industry.
3. “Senior-friendly” technology – The wireless technology that has revolutionized the way we live will definitely transform senior care. While we certainly won’t be seeing care giver robots in the near future yet, there are already a plethora of options we can choose from to improve the quality of life of our senior loved ones, right at our fingertips (no puns intended). “Connected Home” computer systems and mobile device applications are already in-use in many senior-care facilities to track medication intake and vital signs of their residents.
4. “Aging green” – The “Going Green” movement has definitely entered the senior care territory. Eco-friendly assisted living facilities are now becoming one of the trends du jour in the senior living industry, and they offer long term benefits, too! While it may require a sky-high initial investment for the building of eco-friendly infrastructures and getting an LEEED certification, the “green” amenities can save a great deal of money in the long run. Plus, their residents get to have an opportunity to be environmentally minded as they reach their golden years.
Some of these trends may still be in development while others are already in existence. And as expected, not everyone may be too happy with the trends in the senior care industry. But whatever the consensus is, you will always have the last say in which elder care option you choose.
Here are a few trends you might be seeing in the future of senior care:
1. Say good bye to sterile, nursing home facilities. Years from now, you’ll be seeing a massive shift from the traditional and hospital-like setting of the nursing home model to more personalized senior living options like assisted living and independent living, where active seniors can live a rich life with little or no assistance in everyday activities. Factors like rising costs of skilled nursing facilities and cuts in Medicare may propel this change to a nearer future date.
Some facilities have, in fact, taken assisted living to a whole new level. Now there are a great number of niche senior communities, ranging from culture-based to lifestyle-based retirement housing options, where residents can enjoy being around like-minded individuals, or other elderly people from the same culture.
2. Increase and improvements in the in-home care industry. As more and more seniors prefer to age in place than move out, increase in the demands for in-home care services could result to improvement of the in-home care technology and a massive employment growth in the in-home care sector. Trends like “senior-friendly” communities and multigenerational homes may also become the norm in the future for the in-home care industry.
3. “Senior-friendly” technology – The wireless technology that has revolutionized the way we live will definitely transform senior care. While we certainly won’t be seeing care giver robots in the near future yet, there are already a plethora of options we can choose from to improve the quality of life of our senior loved ones, right at our fingertips (no puns intended). “Connected Home” computer systems and mobile device applications are already in-use in many senior-care facilities to track medication intake and vital signs of their residents.
4. “Aging green” – The “Going Green” movement has definitely entered the senior care territory. Eco-friendly assisted living facilities are now becoming one of the trends du jour in the senior living industry, and they offer long term benefits, too! While it may require a sky-high initial investment for the building of eco-friendly infrastructures and getting an LEEED certification, the “green” amenities can save a great deal of money in the long run. Plus, their residents get to have an opportunity to be environmentally minded as they reach their golden years.
Some of these trends may still be in development while others are already in existence. And as expected, not everyone may be too happy with the trends in the senior care industry. But whatever the consensus is, you will always have the last say in which elder care option you choose.
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